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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) bloc has warned to impose sanctions if by January 2022 the Malian junta did not move to hold polls.

The Community parliament as part of its parliamentary diplomacy in the coming days is making moves to ensure the Military junta meets the deadline or provides an alternative.

First Rapporteur of Parliament’s Committee on Political Affairs, Peace, Security and African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Mahama Ayariga in an interview with Ghanamps.com noted that usually when there are military coups, parliaments stand dissolved, “we are usually the victims”.

The Executive would transition from democratically elected to military Executives, the Judiciary  continues to function,  ECOWAS has given the Junta a deadline; they themselves have not given a time table and  parliament is going there as part of parliamentary diplomacy to engage with the military junta to see.

 “If we can convince them to try and meet the requirement of the ECOWAS Commission, they cannot fail to meet the requirement of ECOWAS and also fail to provide an alternative proposal”.

Mr. Ayariga further noted that something has to give; they either have to provide an alternative programme that ECOWAS can consider or meet the ECOWAS deadline; and as one of the major political institution, they cannot stay out of efforts to promote democracy, promote the rule of law and promote parliamentary democracy in the West African sub-region.

“We have interest in this contest to be pushing for a programme by the military to ensure that election takes place so that parliament can exist in Mali”, he stated.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

 The National Security Minister Albert Kan Dapaah has told Parliament on Friday, December 17, 2021 that the recent cost of official travels of President Nana Akufo-Addo in May to France, South Africa and Belgium cannot be disclosed.

According to him the funds comes under the operational cost of the Ministry and it has not been the general practice for such an amount to be disclosed to the general public and has been the practice in the intelligence community .

Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa wanted to know how much it costs the Ghanaian taxpayer on the presidents May travel.

But the North Tongu lawmaker contended that, that is not the case in other jurisdictions citing the USA congressional report which detailed coast of presidential travels and presented another report of the cost per hour of the Royal Family of the United Kingdom.

“Mr. Speaker, how does the Minister reconcile that in advance democracy, there are greater transparency?”

First Deputy Speaker who was chairing proceedings also sought to know if the North Tongu lawmaker had examples to give from Ghana, but that was not given.

The Minister noted, “by public policy consideration, the utilization of operation funds are not subject to any institution and are not normally disclosed or subject to any other institutions if disclosed in other jurisdiction is it because they are not paid from operational funds. The costs that were paid were from operational funds that is why it is difficult for me to disclose.”

 “Mr. Speaker any presidential travel have national security implications such that any disclosure prior to during and after such travels has the potential of comprising the security of the entire state. I must bear with parliament to bear with my inability to make any disclosure on cost of presidential travels”

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Minister for Trade and Industry Alan Kojo Kyerematen has told Parliament the One District One Factory (1DIF) programme is a demand driven initiative facilitated by Government to assist the private sector to establish at least one manufacturing enterprise in each of the 260 Districts of the country.

According to him to date, no private sector Promoter has confirmed their interest in establishing a 1DIF project in the Offinso Municipality.

However, Government Policy is to support such districts with seed capital to establish their 1D1F project.

“Mr. Speaker, provision has been made in the 2022 Budget to support 16 districts currently without a IDIF project to benefit from direct intervention by Government to establish a 1DIF enterprise”.

In this regard, pending approval of the 2022 budget estimates, the Ministry would consider providing seed funding to establish a IDIF project in the Offinso Municipality, with the view to off-loading Government’s interest to a private sector operator in future, he added.

This came to light when Member of Parliament (MP) for Offinso South, Dr. Isaac Opoku wanted to know if the Ministry has arrangement in place to ensure the Municipality benefits from government’s flagship programme 1d1f.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Parliament on Wednesday December 15, 2021 approved the sum of nine hundred and twenty one million, eight hundred and forty three thousand Ghana Cedis (GHS 921,843,000.000 for the services of the Ministry of Transport and its agencies to carry out its programmes and activities for the 2022 fiscal year ending 31st December, 2022.

The annual estimates allocation to the Ministry represents an increase of 40.13% over the 2021 budgetary allocation of six hundred and fifty seven thousand, eight hundred and thirty nine thousand and one hundred and ninety seven Ghana cedis (GHS 657,839,197.00 )

The programme budget covers the Ministry’s Headquarters including Marine and Water Transport namely the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Ghana Marine Authority, Ghana Shippers Authority, the Regional Maritime University, the Volta Lake Transport Company and the PSC Tema Shipyard.

The budgetary allocation also covers the Ministry’s Road Transport Services including Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, National Road Safety Authority, Metro Mass Transport Limited, Inter-City STC Coaches Limited as well as Government Technical Training Centre.

A Deputy Minister for Transport Fredrick Obeng Adom moving the motion for approval in Parliament explained that objectives of the Ministry include increasing the efficiency and capacity of port operation, ensuring safety and security of all categories of road users and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of road transport infrastructure and services.

The policy objective of the Ministry as derived from the Medium Term Development Framework is to also enhance the contribution of inland waterways for safe and efficient transportation of goods and people and to ensure effective and effective flow of goods, services and related information to meet consumer requirements.

Chairman of the Committee Roads and Transport Committee Kennedy Nyarko Osei presenting the Committee’s report said the Committee observed with concern the arbitrary fees charged by shipping lines which significantly increase the import cost of importers and ultimately sours up cost of imported commodities.

The Deputy Ranking Member of the Committee and the MP for Adaklu Governs Kwame Agbodza called for the liquidation of the position of Director of the non-existent Keta Sea Port which he described as a drain on the nations scarce resources.

The House has also approved the annual estimates totaling GHS 575,970,000.00 for the services of the Ministry of Railway Development for the year ending 31st December, 2022 instead of the required capital expenditure of GHS 2,520,033,185.00

The Minister for Railway Development Peter Amewu moving the motion for approval noted that objectives of the Ministry are to modernise and extend rail network, ensure effective and efficient flow of goods, services and related information to meet consumer needs as well as develop associated infrastructure to enhance well-functioning regulatory bodies.

The Chairman of the Committee Roads and Transport Committee Kennedy Nyarko Osei presenting the Committee’s report disclosed that the Tema-Mpankadan standard gauge railway project is about 90% complete and is expected to be completed in 2022.

In another development, the House has approved the sum of five hundred and seventy-four thousand, eight hundred and fifty- six thousand Ghana cedis (GHS574,856,000.00) in annual estimates for the services of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation for the year ending 31st December, 2022.

Ghanamps.com

Minister for Youth and Sports, Mr Mustapha ussif has urged Ghanaians to throw their support behind the Senior National team in the Black Stars as they prepare for major activities starting January 2022.

The Minister in a statement on Tuesday, December 14, 2021 on the floor of the House outlined some activities ahead of the team as they prepare towards the AFCON tournament next year, 2022.

He urged Members of Parliament and Ghanaians in general to fully throw their supports behind the Black Star to boost their moral and spirit as they go through preparations and during the tournament.

He further used the opportunity to express his gratitude to the various corporate institutions that made a pledged in support of the teams during the Presidential fund raising for the Black Star and other national teams.

He revealed that, Two Million USA Dollars ($2 million) has been raised so far out of the targeted Twenty Five Million USA Dollars ($25 million)

Mr. Mustapha concluded by appealing to all those corporates institutions who have not yet fulfilled their promises to do so in order to assist the national teams in their preparations towards the main competitions come next year 2022.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

 

The Minister of Defense, Dominic Nitiwul, has told Parliament that should a new wider presidential jet be bought today, it will be delivered in the year 2025 by which time President Akufo-Addo would have been out of office.

According to him, the fuss against the procurement of a new presidential jet for the country is neither here nor there as the Ghana Armed Forces is in urgent need of the aircraft for the use of government business as the current one, the CASA 295 being operated is not suitable for government business.

“Mr. Speaker, when I contacted both Boeing and Airbus, they told me that it will take about three years for them to be able to deliver a new aircraft to Ghana. What it simply means is that if I were to make a decision today, and government will have money for the Ministry of Defense to purchase an aircraft, the least time for the aircraft to arrive is the first quarter of 2025. This current President will not sit in that aircraft as President. He may sit as ex-President. So that is where we are today, Mr. Speaker”, he noted at a plenary sitting on Tuesday, December 14, 2021.

Mr. Nitiwul was responding to a question posed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa who had asked for Mr. Nitiwul to explain “what was the policy justification for the purchase of a new presidential jet”

Justification for a new jet

Commenting further on the issue, Mr. Nitiwul confirmed to Members that the Ghana Air Force has indeed written to the Minister of Defense, requesting for a new wider aircraft for the use of Government Business as the one currently in use is not fit for purpose.

He said it has been the policy and strategy of the Ghana Air Force to maintain a minimum of two Fixed Wind Aircraft, which consist of a main (wide body aircraft) and supporting aircraft that are required to undertake thorough and effective Government Business.

“Mr. Speaker, hitherto, the Ghana Air Force operated Fokker 28 Executive Jet as the main aircraft and Fokker 27 as the supporting aircraft until in the year 2010 when both aircrafts were decommissioned. Currently, the Ghana Air Force has the supporting aircraft which is the Falcon 900 Executive Jet, but lacks the main wide body aircraft which it needs for all Government Business”, he explained.

He added “in the absence of the main wide body aircraft, the Ghana Air Force has been temporarily using the CASA 295 to fill in for the shortfalls and gaps created by non-availability of the specific aircraft designed for this task. It must be noted that the CASA 295 is not suitable for Government business in view of its design and features, making it a pure military aircraft”.

Major challenges will continue

He cautioned that until government acquired a wide body aircraft for the Ghana Air Force, the task assigned them will continue to face major challenges and difficulties.

The Defense Minister, who is also the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for … said consultations are ongoing with government, Parliament, religious bodies and trade unions among other groupings for the purchase of new aircraft and navy ships for the Ghana Air Force and Ghana Navy to enable them “efficiently defend our nation as expected”.

When asked when his office received a letter to that effect and the cost implication to the country, Mr. Nitiwul said his office had been in discussions with the Ghana Air Force over the matter for over a year, but officially requested they submit a formal letter in September, 2021.

“Mr. Speaker, in October a formal letter was submitted. The Ghana Air Force does not determine the cost of the aircraft. The cost is determined when government has made a decision to purchase the aircraft and selected a vendor. The vendor will then submit the cost to us. All they have requested for is that we need a wide body aircraft to do government business”, he said.

Ghanamps.com

First Deputy Minority Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim has said the current eighth (8^th) Parliament of Ghana which is a hang parliament is bearing more fruits when it comes to oversight function of the Legislature.

According to him the last seventh Parliament could not do even ten percent in terms of oversight, but in terms of legislation they scored ninety eight percent (98%) over one hundred. “Much as we engage in legislation, a lot of rot was happening on the oversight function.”

And that was the reason why civil society organisations were shining and pointing out  and explained further in an interview that the Executive arm of government are now very careful when bringing matters before the Legislature.

“It is a plus for Ghanaians, the way they voted and the kind of Parliament we have now we cannot be taken for granted”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula G. Owusu Ekuful has expressed surprise at the conduct of the Minority members on the Communications Committee for rushing to organise a hurried press conference,  when there was an understanding that sitting be suspended for thirty minutes so that,  the National Communications Authority (NCA) annual report for 2017 could be presented.

According the Minister whiles at the Committee on Tuesday, December 14, 2021 she had an annual report of the NCA for 2015 and 2016 which she showed to the Committee and are supposed to be laid on the floor of the House on Wednesday, December 15, 2021.

“Four agencies under the Ministry presented their estimate for 2022 to the Committee; 2018 annual report of the NCA was also being printed to be presented, I explained to the Committee, I was not the Minister in 2015 and 2016 this thing started long before the NPP came to power but I am the Minister now and it is my responsibility to ensure that the annual report of my agency are laid before Parliament and i indicated at my vetting that I would ensure it is laid before parliament as soon I receive them”.

She further pointed out at a press briefing that she never said anywhere that she has the annual report and it’s before Parliament and added that she had given an explanation on the NCA annual report which was satisfactory to the Committee.

Again, she explained that it is her responsibility to ensure that the NCA does it work the way it is required by law, “I am working very hard putting pressure on the NCA to ensure they present the composite report so that I can also present it to parliament majority of the members were satisfied”.

The Minister told members of the Parliamentary Press Corps (PPC) she would be happy, if journalists can contact chairperson or vice of the Communication Committee to ascertain the veracity of her explanation with the hurriedly organised Minority press conference whiles they suspended for thirty minutes.

“I do not want to use any strong language, I am at a lost why they would put that information when that is not what transpired at the committee level,  I have finished producing the ministry’s estimate, our budget for 2022 the rest of the agencies are ongoing, we stand ready to cooperate with the committee fully to conduct all the oversight responsibility”, she added.

 In addition she explained that, so far as it is in her powers she would ensure that all the agencies and departments abide by their legal obligation, indicating that sometimes not all of them do so, but “I kept telling them if any stage of the way if I am unable to provide them with the information they seek I would come and tell them why I am unable”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Minister of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul has told Parliament his Ministry is currently awaiting a comprehensive investigation by the Ghana Police on the criminal aspect of the case of the killing of Mr. Eric Ofotsu.

According to him the Ghana Armed Forces would take necessary action when the report is presented to the Ministry.

“Mr. Speaker, in March 2020, the Ghana Armed Forces together with its sister security services were tasked to enforce a lockdown when COVID-19 broke out in this Country”.

During this exercise, an individual called Mr. Eric Ofotsu was killed during a struggle with military personnel. The initial investigation by the Military Police confirmed that the individual (Mr. Eric Ofotsu) attempted to wrestle a weapon from a soldier and died in the process.

Since the case is a homicide case, the Civil Police has the duty to investigate same and has since been investigating the incident.

The Ashaiman MP Ernest Henry Norgbey wanted to know the outcome of the investigation of the killing by a civilian by the military officer in March of 2020 during lockdown in the constituency.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Daniel Kwaku Botwe has said before the Bole District can be elevated to Municipal Assembly it needs to meet a legal provision and criteria which an area is expected of before it is considered for the creation of a new district or upgraded to a new status.

According to him, Section 1 (2) (a) of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936) states that the President may by Executive Instrument declare any area within the country to be a district. Section 3 further indicates that, the President shall in the exercise of this power, direct the Electoral Commission to make appropriate recommendations.

 Section 1 (4 (a) (b) provides for the conditions under which the Electoral Commission shall make these recommendations to the President – “The Electoral Commission shall before making recommendations to the President under subsection 3 consider the following factors including:

In the case of:

(i) A district, that there 1s a minimum population of seventy-five thousand people;

(ii) A municipality, that there is a minimum of ninety five thousand people;

(iii) A metropolis, that there is a minimum of two hundred and fifty thousand people; and

(b) The geographical contiguity and economic viability of the area, namely, the ability of an area to provide the basic infrastructural and other developmental needs from the monetary and any other resources generated from the area”.

This came to light on Tuesday, December 14, 2021 when Member of Parliament for Bole/Bamboi Yusif Sulemana wanted to know when Bole District would be elevated to a municipal assembly.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com